The 2012 season could easily be described in the latter two categories for the Lions, who fell to 4-9 after a typically frustrating 27-20 loss at Green Bay Sunday night.

However, a more apropos description would be a lost year.

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The Lions will be fortunate to settle for 6-10, a reversal of their 10-6 mark from 2012, but the record isn't the only bone of contention

This year made the like The Titanic long ago, setting sail never to return. The turning point was the beginning. Ah, remember opening day when the Lions, heavily favored, "disappointingly" had to rally with two spectacular drives in the last seven minutes of play to beat the St. Louis Rams? It turned out to be the highlight of the season.

The Lions have been mud sliding down a mountain destined to be engulfed by the ocean since.

What is left to decipher are the small triumphs within the defeats that can still be measured as progress toward the future.

That's where the rub comes in. There aren't many.

Unlike the past, the Matt Millen years specifically, the Lions are not without a nucleus. They have three players - wide receiver Calvin Johnson, quarterback Matthew Stafford and defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh - who are as talented as any players at their respective positions in the league.

Head coach Jim Schwartz is getting loads of flak, not only because the Lions are losing, but how they are losing. This version of the Lions does just about every thing, from the spectacular to the inept. The only thing it never seems to do is put together two halves of good, winning football.

It's amazing how poorly the Lions played in the first half of their games earlier this season, only to rally to make it close or win, to now going in the opposite direction, starting out strongly in games then not being able to close.

As such, it has been forgotten how far, and quickly, Schwartz did bring the Lions to respectability after the humiliation of 0-16 in 2008.

Yet, it's difficult to measure progress based on much that has transpired this season. Stafford has regressed. He will throw for a lot of yards this season, perhaps even become the first NFL quarterback to throw for 5,000 yards in back-to-back seasons. It's an accomplishment that shouldn't be dismissed. The Lions haven't never had a quarterback even remotely capable of such a feat before, but Stafford has not been able to sustain a measure of consistency. Stafford's play has fluctuated series-by-series, quarter-by-quarter, half-by-half. His status has been downgraded from "great" to 'might be great."

Last season, he put together entire games. This season, that's been rare. Sunday was an example. The Packers have a lot of injuries. They were vulnerable on a number of levels. The Lions could have put them away in the first half, which they dominated statistically. Stafford literally dropped the ball. It was returned for a touchdown. It was undisputably the turning point.

Suh is a really good player. The Lions need him to be a great player - like he was as a rookie.

Johnson is above question. He's been brilliant, despite it all.

The linebackers have been pretty good. Chris Houston is a solid cornerback. The offensive line has been OK. Defensive end Cliff Avril has made some plays.

It's all kind of been good enough statistically, but intermixed with a bizarre rash of mistakes, which have added up to losses.

How it bodes for the future might be disconcerting. There has been limited progress from the Lions' younger player. Defensive tackle Nick Fairley has looked good lately. Running back Joique Bell has been a pleasant surprise, but it's not particularly promising he has been a more effective back than Mikel Leshoure, who the Lions were really counting on.

The emergence of Fairley and Bell has more than been offset by the antics of Titus Young, and injuries to Ryan Broyles, Bill Bentley and Amari Spievey - all young players in the developmental stage..

They were early draft picks in recent years. How much will they be able to help in the future? With the exception of Bentley, these aren't issues that necessarily will heal with time.

The Lions have had veteran leadership. They imported it in the form of free agents Kyle Vanden Bosch and Nate Burleson. Vanden Bosch will be 35 next season, and his production is down noticeably from his salad days with the Titans. Burleson will be 32 next season, and is coming off a major leg injury.

They have been significant contributors to the Lions' turnaround, who may need to be replaced because of Father Time.

It hasn't just been the losses this season, but also the lack of advancement of individual players toward winning a title in the near future. What players are moving in that direction to get the Lions there?

Schwartz has earned slack. So has general manager Martin Mayhew. But the Lions must go into regroup mode as soon as possible after this season. It's unlikely another season like this will be tolerated, even by the overly patient and loyal Fords.

In the meantime, the franchise will have to endure the stale cries of "The Same Old Lions." It'll be their punishment for this, even if there is legitimate hope for the future because of the nucleus.

This particular group of Lions had earned trust of their fan base. They proved unworthy of it with their performance this season.